Michael Jordan Didn’t Want To Go To Chicago In 2011 To Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of Bulls’ First Championship: ‘He Was Still Angry With The Organization’

Scottie Pippen wrote in his book that he had to convince Michael Jordan to come to the United Center in 2011 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Bulls‘ first NBA championship in 1991. 

According to Pippen, Jordan was still angry at the Bulls for breaking up the dynasty after the sixth title in 1998. 

“In March of 2011, the group got together at the United Center to mark the twentieth anniversary of our first championship,” Pippen wrote. “Michael didn’t want to come. I had to convince him and it wasn’t easy. That’s one of the reasons the Bulls put me on the payroll as an ‘ambassador’ in 2010. To get Michael back into the fold. To show the fans and media we were one big happy family.

“I was playing the same role I did on the court: bringing everyone together. ‘Do it this one time,’ I told MJ,’ and I promise I will never ask you again.’ He was still angry with the organization for not giving us an opportunity to win another championship. Seriously, who else but the Bulls would break up a team after winning it all? Winning not just once, mind you. Three years in a row! Six out of eight!”

The Bulls went 6-0 in the NBA Finals during the Jordan-Pippen era. They three-peated twice and never played in a Game 7. 

Behind Jordan and Pippen, the Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals, the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1992 Finals, the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 Finals, the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 Finals and the Utah Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 Finals. 

Bulls general manager Jerry Krause told reporters that the 1997-98 season would be Phil Jackson‘s last year in Chicago. Krause told Jackson privately that he would hire a new coach after the campaign, even if the Bulls went 82-0 and won the championship.

Krause was a massive distraction for the Bulls in 1997-98 since he was planning for the future. However, Jordan, Pippen and Jackson stayed in the moment and led the Bulls to 62 wins and the championship.

In the summer of 1998, Jordan and Jackson retired and Krause traded Pippen to the Houston Rockets. 

In two stints with the Bulls, Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.9 blocks. He won five MVPs, six Finals MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, 10 scoring titles and three steals titles. 

Pippen also had two stints with the Bulls. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks. Pippen made seven All-Star teams, 10 All-Defensive teams and seven All-NBA teams as a member of the Bulls. 

Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks next to Pippen, while Pippen averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks alongside Jordan. Both players are in the Hall of Fame.